Robert Picardo 'Thought It Was a Mistake' When He Was Asked to Return to “Star Trek” Universe“ ”25 Years Later (Exclusive)

Robert Picardo reprises his Star Trek: Voyager role as The Doctor in the new live-action Starfleet Academy series

NEED TO KNOW

• The new series is set 1,000 years after the actor was last part of the franchise

• Picardo tells PEOPLE that returning to the Star Trek universe was "very unexpected"

Robert Picardo admits that, 25 years after he last played the holographic Doctor onStar Trek: Voyager, he was stunned when he got the call to return to the beloved sci-fi franchise for the new series,Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

"I would say [it was] very unexpected — I thought it was a mistake!" Picardo tells PEOPLE exclusively.

The 72-year-old reveals that after he reprised his role as The Doctor — in voice only — for a 2024 episode of the animated, kid-skewing seriesStar Trek: Prodigy, his animation agent got word that a different set of producers in the franchise wanted to meet with him. Picardo assumed it was for another voice role or cameo until he learned more about the gig in a follow-up call.

"They called back and said, 'No, it's live-action,'" he recalls. "And then I wasreallyconfused! And then my agent, my theatrical agent, [said], 'Yeah, they want to talk to you about being in the newStar Trekseries.' "

"Those first three or four weeks waiting for that meeting were really the strangest, that part of knowing they're interested but not knowing what it was," he says. "And then they laid out the idea they had for the character and how he would fit in and what he would be doing in the future: teaching cadets at a newly reopened Starfleet Academy."

Picardo had originally played the fan-favorite character — an increasingly self-aware, independent and somewhat egotistical Emergency Medical Hologram who provided a fresh lens on both humanity and technology while snarkily treating the crew of the starshipVoyager— for seven seasons between 1995 and 2001. However, with the new role, he wouldn't just be picking up The Doctor a quarter-century later; he was also thrown an unexpected acting challenge as the 2026 series was set nearly 1,000 years in the future.

"It's mind-blowing," he confesses. "I said to them, 'Wait a minute, you mean I have 800 years of digital memory — perfect clarity — so that an event that happened 792 years and 112 days and this many hours and minutes, that moment was not only recorded in here, but it was as clear as something that happened yesterday?' [They said], 'Yep, that's what it means.' I said, 'Alright, I'll start trying to wrap my mind around that now!' "

What struck him most about taking a quantum leap forward in time was how it would affect The Doctor's worldview. "Working side by side with 32 generations of organic colleagues growing old and dying around you, how does that influence your desire to form personal relationships?" he questions.

"I thought that on the surface, he would seem the same, at the same pace, the same attitude, the same snarkiness when he didn't feel he was being respected, the same 'I like feeling that I'm the smartest intelligence in the room,' all of those things," Picardo tells PEOPLE. "But that, when push came to shove, he wasn't very interested in going deeper with any individual. I wasn't excited to be your pal, you know what I mean? Because what's the end game for me?"

"So there was this kind of push-pull between being like The Doctor once he had grown more human-like, but with the sort of careful delineation of how far he wanted to go beyond cordiality in his relationships," he adds.

That emotional distance has been challenged on the new Paramount+ series by young SAM (Kerrice Brooks), another photonic being enrolled in Starfleet Academy, who longs for mentorship from The Doctor, who finally lowers his defenses.

"The Doctor, I think, likes feeling unique, but also a protege who is giving him more attention and interest that he clearly wants to return," Picardo explains. "He's both intrigued and annoyed by her."

AsStarfleet Academyhas been streaming new episodes each week, Picardo has been enjoying watching the always-passionate fanbase debate the various merits of the show — a phenomenon he's been long accustomed to.

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"It takes every newStar Trekshow two years or so to kind of hit its stride," he says. "And until then, people complain about what kind of female Captain Janeway should be. 'Do we really need a female captain in the mid-90s?' I mean, we were 25 years ahead ofDoctor Who,having the first female doctor! 25 years! And of course, Kate [Mulgrew] really won over all of the initial critics to the idea of taking this traditionally male role. And since then, of course, we've had Captain Michael Burnham, we've had Michelle Yeoh's character, [Captain Georgiou] and now Holly Hunter."

"I've been really lucky to be in shows that are led by women —China Beach,even before that, the Vietnam drama I was in where the point of view character was an Army nurse played by Dana Delaney," he adds. "So I feel like I've had this special luck to be on shows where women, female characters, really carried the show or were the dynamos behind the show."

Playing the holographic character has also given Picardo a unique perspective on a current, much-buzzed-about topic: AI.

"Obviously, we were ahead of the game onStar Trekwhen we did all of those episodes about core fears of artificial intelligence, when The Doctor's program was hijacked by another entity and his core programming of serving and being a healer was taken over so that he could now be threatening and even lethal," he says. "All of those things that have been very much in the public imagination the last three years, we were dealing with 30 years ago."

Picardo recalls once receiving a call from someone getting a PhD at Harvard, specializing in researching medical applications for AI, wanting to interview him for a book. "I said, 'You know, I'm only an actor,'" he recalls.

But the physician explained that, as a young viewer ofVoyager, he was captivated by the concept of an Emergency Medical Hologram programmed with the entirety of medical knowledge.

"But then he said, 'Watching your journey on the show, I came to realize that the knowledge is not enough. You need the human interface, you need the bedside manner. You need to mediate the information to a patient in order to have that bond and give them, so they have trust in you,'" Picardo says. "It is interesting for me as a bystander, as an actor who played this artificial intelligence physician, to now see so many of these concerns play out now and feel like, if only because of my role, I've been thinking about them for decades."

He's also been keenly aware of the rate at which technology advances. "Star Trekhas always been in the game of dreaming up something and then science tries to catch up with that dream because of all the young minds that were watching it at the time and because it just seemed impossibly cool if we could do that," he says. "I remember my little computer on my desk in Sickbay when we premiered seemed so impossibly small. And then, within a year and a half of our premiere, it was too big! PowerBooks came out and suddenly it was like, 'No, this looks like a joke.' "

"Star Trekis a great predictor, I think, of technologies, and it also encourages us to want to develop the science and engineering to accomplish them," he says.

As a result, inspired by the originalTrekseries' actress Nichelle Nichols' recruitment of women and minorities into the space program in the '70s and '80s, Picardo has "tried to take on that mantle with my relationship with the Planetary Society for more than 25 years," supporting funding for NASA's space science budget and sitting on its executive board.

It's just one aspect of the way being a part ofStar Trekhas impacted him, he says. "It changes your life in so many other ways through the people you meet who likeStar Trekor have been inspired byStar Trekas young people and grown into these amazing people that you meet and they giveyousome credit!" he tells PEOPLE.

"I mean, to sit on stage with five men who walked on the moon, just to be up there with them because, at least to the audience, we were connected somehow," he marvels. "So that connection between imagining what our future in space is and actually encouraging the work to be done now in order to get there is something that I have treasured in my life."

Read the original article onPeople

byCUSTOS CAELORUM

in Celebrities, lifestyle, PCelebrities, PoCelebrities, PolCelebrities, PoliCelebrities, PolitCelebrities, PoliticCelebrities, PolitiCelebrities, Politics, PoliticsCelebrities, showbiz, sports

February 28, 2026

Robert Picardo 'Thought It Was a Mistake' When He Was Asked to Return to “Star Trek” Universe“ ”25 Years Later (Exclusive)

Robert Picardo reprises his Star Trek: Voyager role as The Doctor in the new live-action Starfleet Academy series ...

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Our picks include cultfavorite series and feature films alike. The 19 best horror anime ranked, from Vampire Hunter D to Death Note

Our picks include cult-favorite series and feature films alike.

The 19 best horror anime ranked, from *Vampire Hunter D *to Death Note

Our picks include cult-favorite series and feature films alike.

By Declan Gallagher

October 30, 2025 9:00 a.m. ET

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From top left: 'Vampire Hunter D,' 'Perfect Blue,' 'Belladonna of Sadness,' and 'Death Note'. Credit:

Toho Co., Ltd.; Kobal/Shutterstock; Cinelicious Pics/Courtesy Everett; Viz Media

Horror anime is a special beast. Blending the two forms requires a keen eye for visuals and an uncanny sense of the surreal. The films and TV shows that pull it off do so in a far more visceral fashion than many live-action productions are capable of achieving.

From slasher homages like Satoshi Kon's *Perfect Blue *to esoteric but no less worthy films like *Belladonna of Sadness*, these works possess a power to shock and terrify. Many horror anime also reflect the social issues of the time, tackling thorny topics with a genre-oriented accessibility that lingers in the mind.

Choosing the best horror anime was no easy feat, but we took a close look at the canon and settled on a wide range of works — both big-screen features and small-screen sagas — that encompass the most important hallmarks of the genre. Read on for our picks.

19. Shiki (2010–2011)

Sunako Kirishiki, one of the eponymous Shiki from the horror novel adaptation.

This unassuming but frankly disturbing anime is a Stephen King-inspired story about a small town beset by a mysterious string of deaths. Hospital administrator Toshio Ozaki (Tôru Ôkawa) sets out to discover the true species behind the bizarre, gruesome attacks — and discovers, wouldn't you know it, *vampires*.

*Shiki* is a stylish investigative horror series, a neo-noir procedural filtered through the lens of contemporary anime. The story is chilling, but what really makes the series special is its atmosphere, which is positively out of this world.

Where to watch *Shiki*: Not currently available to stream

18. Devilman Crybaby (2018)

'Devilman Crybaby'.

Good luck *not *bingeing this devilishly good series in one sitting. Tasked with defeating an age-old species of demon hell-bent on wiping out humanity (sound familiar?), teenagers Akira and Ryo take drastic steps to ensure their success.

How drastic? Ryo suggests Akira meld with a demon to acquire a set of unique powers — and this ludicrous plan actually works. Akira is transformed into the eponymous Devilman, who retains a human soul while adopting a particular set of skills that make him a nightmare for any demon.

Where to watch *Devilman Crybaby*: Netflix

17. Demon Slayer Mugen Train (2020)

The first 'Demon Slayer' film, but definitely not the last.

This film was such a big North American box office hit, it's largely responsible for the volume of anime features being released in U.S. theaters these days. An adaptation of one manga storyline and situated between the first and second seasons of the TV series, *Mugen Train* revolves around three fledgling demon slayers — Tanjiro (Natsuki Hanae), Zenitsu (Hiro Shimono), and Inosuke (Yoshitsugu Matsuoka), plus Tanjiro's demonically possessed sister, Nezuko (Akari Kitō).

Our heroic trio is tasked with looking into disappearances aboard the titular train — and, yes, fighting off demons, including the primary villain, slithery and sinister Enmu (Daisuke Hirakawa).

Where to watch *Demon Slayer Mugen Train*: Crunchyroll

16. King of Thorn (2009)

'King of Thorn,' an adaptation of the early 2000s manga.

Kazuyoshi Katayama's petrifying speculative sci-fi, based upon Yūji Iwahara's manga, exists in a world where select humans have been cryofrozen — a temporary solution to a virus that was turning people to stone — until a more sustainable future is assured. In the meantime, grotesque monsters have overtaken the planet, killing those who've gone through the cryo process.

In a horrific twist, Kasumi (Kana Hanazawa) wakes up way too early — and thus has to battle the ferocious beasties to survive. There are more twists and conceptual wrinkles to come.

Where to watch *King of Thorn*: Crunchyroll

15. Demon City Shinjuku (1988)

Demon City Shinjuku.

Along with* Vampire Hunter D* and (to a lesser degree) *Belladonna of Sadness*, *Shinjuku* is one of the works that solidified some of the now-familiar conventions, aesthetics, and possibilities of horror anime.

Skilled swordsman (and reluctant hero) Kyoya (Hideyuki Hori) is recruited by Sayaka (Hiromi Tsuru) to rescue her powerful father from a curse that carries existential implications. That quest ties back to a nefarious dark lord (Kiyoshi Kobayashi) who intends to open a portal of demons that will cede the city of Tokyo to his control.

Where to watch *Demon City Shinjuku*: Prime Video

14. The Empire of Corpses (2015)

Literary figures get the anime treatment in 'The Empire of Corpses'.

This is the first (and finest) in a series of films based on the work of sci-fi author Project Itoh, in this case a manga completed by Toh EnJoe after Itoh's death. The movie is about 19th-century London medical student John Watson (Yoshimasa Hosoya), who must locate the diary of Dr. Frankenstein to uncover the secret behind a rash of reanimated corpses who, unlike the normal undead, have complex emotions.

*The Empire of Corpses* is a wild ride, an entertaining and expansive piece of imagination that has a great deal of fun combining characters from classic film and literary sources. The less you know about this going in, the better.

Where to watch *The Empire of Corpses*: Crunchyroll

13. Wicked City (1987)

Makie in 'Wicked City'.

For centuries, a peace treaty between humans and the Black World — which houses all manner of witches, demons, and ghouls — has been in place to ensure separation between the two factions. With the treaty up for renewal, a group of Black World radicals seeks to stop the agreement so that demons can wipe out humans and overtake our existence.

There have been many movies with similar themes and ideas, but Yoshiaki Kawajiri's picture, based upon Hideyuki Kikucki's *Wicked City: Black Guard*, combines its inspirations with greater assurance than most. It's far more insidiously chilling and contemplative than its logline suggests.

Where to watch *Wicked City*: Prime Video (to rent)

12. Seoul Station (2016)

The live-action hit 'Train to Busan' gets an equally grim anime companion piece.

An anime sequel to zombie-horror hit *Train to Busan* (2016), *Seoul Station* takes a decidedly darker approach to the material. Suk-gyu (Ryu Seung-ryong) sets out to find his troubled runaway daughter Hye-sun (Shim Eun-kyung) just as the government is beginning to quarantine citizens from the plague. He ends up at the eponymous train station fending off bloodthirsty walkers.

A simple tale of a father trying to reunite his family? Well, not quite. As it turns out, things are not what they seem.

Where to watch *Seoul Station*: Prime Video

11. Tokyo Ghoul (2014)

'Tokyo Ghoul,' based on Sui Ishida's manga series.

*Tokyo Ghoul* is set in an alternate Tokyo where people live alongside creatures more or less indistinguishable from humans, except they survive by feasting upon human flesh. You can see how dating might be fraught with complications, which our young hero Ken Kaneki learns the hard way. An evening with the girl of his dreams ends with her unceremoniously chowing down on him. From there, he turns half-ghoul and finds himself on the run from the law as he navigates the precarious social strata between mortals and monsters.

This is a diabolically clever satire that tackles issues of isolationism, racism, and homophobia with gusto — to say nothing of its over-the-top set pieces.

Where to watch *Tokyo Ghoul*: Crunchyroll

10. Ninja Scroll (1993)

Ninjas and devils in feudal Japan in 1993's 'Ninja Scroll'.

After skilled ninja Jubei (Kōichi Yamadera) is essentially tricked into killing his entire band of comrades, he becomes an assassin who, in the *Shogun Assassin *mold, takes to the countryside as a roving cutthroat. He soon gets roped into doing battle with the Devils of Kimon, a demonic ninja clan that intends to overthrow the country's leadership.

One of the great pleasures of anime is that its unabashed, rollicky genre pieces are often suffused with grand, but not grandiose, sociopolitical commentary — a heady combination that many similar pictures can't pull off. *Ninja Scroll* is no exception; it's one of the sharpest, most innovative riffs on the wandering-avenger trope.

Where to watch *Ninja Scroll*: Prime Video (to rent)

9. Hellsing Ultimate (2006–2014)

Alucard in 'Hellsing Ultimate'.

Vampire warrior Alucard (Jôji Nakata) joins forces with his mentor, Sir Integra Hellsing (Yoshiko Sakakibara), and his new companion Seras Victoria (Fumiko Orikasa), to defeat a rabidly authoritarian SS Major who wants to wipe out the entire vampire race.

Absolutely bonkers in the best way possible, *Hellsing Ultimate *offers a singular and finely tuned reinvention of the famous bloodsucker assassin. Coming just two years after the underwhelming *Van Helsing* live-action feature, this is a welcome twist to the well-known story.

Where to watch *Hellsing Ultimate*: Crunchyroll

8. Belladonna of Sadness (1973)

'Belladonna of Sadness' raised the bar for experimental and sophisticated animated storytelling.

Cinelicious Pics/Courtesy Everett

After she's brutally assaulted on her wedding night by a powerful politician (Masaya Takahashi), Jeanne (Aiko Nagayama) makes a deal with the devil (Tatsuya Nakadai) that unlocks an extraordinary power in her — not only over men but over life and death.

Eiichi Yamamoto's expressionistic picture, adapted from Jules Michelet's non-fiction *Satanism and Witchcraft*, initially seems to be a rape-revenge setup fairly typical of the '70s. But *Belladonna of Sadness* is more layered, lush, and morally thorny than you'd expect. Though some elements are admittedly dated by today's standards, it's nonetheless a searing parable about destiny and power.

Where to watch *Belladonna of Sadness*: YouTube (to rent)

7. Paprika (2006)

Satoshi Kon's great final film before his premature death at 46.

The final film of legendary auteur Satoshi Kon is a completely mad confection concerning Atsuko Chiba — by day a scientist, by night a dream detective known as Paprika. Atsuko is working on a prototype device that will allow users to view and analyze their dreams, though in its primitive state, it has the frightening power to rewire users' brains. Naturally, it ends up in the hands of someone bent on world domination.

*Paprika *takes a well-trod concept and flips it on its head. It sounds straightforward, but as the story progresses, Kon infuses it with increasingly bizarre imagery, dreamy digressions, and uncanny characterizations. It's a perfect testament to a true genius of the form.

Where to watch *Paprika*: Criterion Channel

6. Memories (1995)

'Magnetic Rose,' one of three stories in the anthology film 'Memories'.

This impressive anthological feature, based on the work of Katsuhiro Ôtomo, contains three stories: Kōji Morimoto's *Magnetic Rose*, written by Satoshi Kon; Tensai Okamura's *Stink Bomb*, written by Ôtomo; and *Cannon Fodder*, written and directed by Ôtomo.

As with all anthologies, some segments are better than others. However, this one bats a pretty impressive average, and the triptych structure keeps things moving at a nice clip. Ôtomo's fingerprints, obviously, are all over this thing. You leave with the sense that, despite the presence of other filmmakers, he's the auteur behind this vehicle.

Where to watch *Memories*: Prime Video

5. Parasyte -the maxim- (2014–2015)

Shinichi (center) and the parasite that controls his hand in 'Parasyte -the maxim-'.

*Parasyte* *-the maxim-* is a pleasurably perverse tale of high schooler Shinichi Izumi, whose town is beset by galactic parasites who infest the brains of citizens and turn them into mindless drones.

Shinichi has a parasite of his own, but in a stroke of bad luck for the bodily invader, it gained access through (and possession of) the hand, rather than the brain. Thus, Shinichi retains his mind. He and his parasite merge into a sort of dual persona (yes, the shadow of *Venom* permeates the original manga) and fight back against the dastardly alien worms.

Where to watch *Parasyte -the maxim-*: Crunchyroll

4. Death Note (2006–2007)

Light Yagami and his persuasive demon friend, Ryuk. Viz Media

You all know this story by now. Teenager Light Yagami (Mamoru Miyano) discovers a notebook with profoundly scary supernatural properties: write someone's name within it while imagining their face, and that unlucky soul will meet their imminent demise. Absolute power, as they say.

The seductive pull of righteous retribution gives way to a full-on god complex, setting the stage for an extraordinary cautionary tale in the form of a cat-and-mouse procedural. Both the *Death Note* manga and this 37-episode adaptation are staggeringly original and deviously entertaining, a brilliant, gory dark comedy that fully capitalizes on its premise.

Where to watch *Death Note*: Netflix

3. Mononoke (2007)

The 'Medicine Seller' from Kenji Nakamura's 'Mononoke'.

In feudal Japan, ravenous demons known as *mononoke *create havoc across a formerly tranquil countryside until a fearsome warrior known only as the Medicine Seller arrives to dispel the threat by understanding their humanity. Call it exorcism by empathy.

Yet another anime whose message has only grown stronger with age, *Mononoke *(a spinoff of the 2006 anthology series *Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales*) is a highly entertaining adventure yarn that weaves compelling period details throughout its storyline.

Where to watch *Mononoke*: Netflix

2. Vampire Hunter D (1985)

Not just one of the best but one of the most influential anime of all time, 'Vampire Hunter D'.

Part mortal, part vampire, and complete badass D (Kaneto Shiozawa) devotes his life to vanquishing the evil bloodsuckers preying upon the people in a distant post-apocalyptic future. When a young woman (Michie Tomizawa) becomes the target of a powerful vampire lord, Count Lee (Seizô Katô) — first in a ruthless countryside attack, later an abduction — D takes it upon himself to save her.

Directed by Toyoo Ashida, this is an admirably to-the-point action-horror hybrid boasting unbelievable animation, while deftly keeping a trick or two up its sleeve. A sequel followed 15 years later, but it can't quite match the freakish chill and frenetic energy of this original.

Where to watch *Vampire Hunter D*: AMC+

1. Perfect Blue (1997)

Mima in the midst of an identity crisis in Satoshi Kon's iconic 'Perfect Blue'.

Kobal/Shutterstock

Pop star Mima (Junko Iwao) decides to leave her white-hot J-pop group to focus on a career in acting, which requires leaving her clean-cut image behind. This rankles some of her fans, particularly a stalker who begins murdering those boosting her acting ambitions. Meanwhile, Mima's own psyche becomes fractured, a crisis of self-image expressed in frighteningly dreamlike fashion.

Directed by the great Satoshi Kon, this suspenseful, surreal, gorgeous thriller has inspired countless artists, most notably Darren Aronofsky in his Oscar-winning *Black Swan* (2010). Kon subverts slasher tropes and nimbly toys with reality, constantly upending audience expectations and keeping us on our toes.

Where to watch *Perfect Blue*: Prime Video (to rent)

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Movies"

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Source: CUSTOS NEWS

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byCUSTOS CAELORUM

in Celebrities, lifestyle, PCelebrities, PoCelebrities, PolCelebrities, PoliCelebrities, PolitCelebrities, PoliticCelebrities, PolitiCelebrities, Politics, PoliticsCelebrities, showbiz, sports

November 03, 2025

The 19 best horror anime ranked, from Vampire Hunter D to Death Note

Our picks include cultfavorite series and feature films alike. The 19 best horror anime ranked, from Vampire Hunter ...

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Many Are Convinced Meghan Markle’s “Irritating” Celebration With Prince Harry At Home Was Staged

Many Are Convinced Meghan Markle's "Irritating" Celebration With Prince Harry At Home Was Staged Amita KumariNovember 3, 2025 at 5:19 AM 0 Meghan Markle's latest celebration during the 2025 World Series has left netizens suspicious and with a bad taste in their mouths.

- - Many Are Convinced Meghan Markle's "Irritating" Celebration With Prince Harry At Home Was Staged

Amita KumariNovember 3, 2025 at 5:19 AM

0

Meghan Markle's latest celebration during the 2025 World Series has left netizens suspicious and with a bad taste in their mouths.

Over the weekend, on November 1, 2025, the Duchess of Sussex shared a video of herself with Prince Harry that has since been blasted and dissected online.

Many accused her of staging the moment, with some claiming even the Duke appeared "unimpressed" by her antics.

"It's almost like she just discovered a new way to get some attention," wrote one social media user.

Meghan Markle shared a rare at-home video showing some PDA with her husband to celebrate the 2025 World Series

Image credits: Netflix

In the clip posted to her Instagram Stories, Meghan was seen cheering as her hometown team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, secured victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in the Major League Baseball championship.

The game was intense, with the Dodgers leading by just one point, 5-4, in Game 7.

The video showed Meghan, Prince Harry, and her best friend, Kelly McKee Zajfen, enjoying the close match in their dimly lit home theater.

As the Dodgers sealed their win, the 44-year-old Duchess rushed over to Harry to share a quick kiss and hug.

The Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Toronto Blue Jays in the Major League Baseball championship

Movie night in Montecito's mental ward. pic.twitter.com/Dtb5EBfKdD

— That 1 (@ihtiandrs12) November 2, 2025

Image credits: meghan

While Meghan appeared excited, Harry seemed far less enthused, remaining seated and expressionless, as his allegiance was with the Canadian squad.

The Suits star then joined her bestie in the middle of the room, jumping and screaming with excitement inside the couple's Montecito mansion.

Meghan was even heard squealing with joy, "Oh my God!!"

Image credits: meghan

However, the candid moment being perfectly captured on camera left many netizens questioning the authenticity of the video.

One user wrote in a lengthy rant, "This is irritating to see. Fake AF. Of course it was NOT staged because, you know, the camera was perfectly positioned to capture everyone."

"Oh my gosh! Look how happy we are and so into each other. See, we have a friend and it's not my bottle of wine."

The couple was rooting for opposite teams, and as a result, the Duke of Sussex didn't appear to be in a celebratory mood like his wife

Image credits: meghan

Another critic expressed, "I just CANNOT with Markle anymore. Harry must not have known she was recording this, otherwise I would think he would show a little more enthusiasm for the win."

A third commented, "He she goes again, sharing stuff for attention and then has to complain about privacy!! Your wife is the problem!!!"

"Imagine a former Royal Prince Harry has been reduced to being an unpaid 'extra' in his wife's deluded fantasy world."

However, Kelly seemed to subtly clear the air regarding the criticism of her friend, especially about Prince Harry's nonchalant attitude, in an Instagram Story shared on her own page.

She wrote, "Best game ever!!! Sorry H your team didn't win but mine diiiiiiiiid. @dodgers I LOVE YOU!!!!"

According to netizens, the 44-year-old Duchess was doing "stuff for attention," with many calling the video "fake"

Image credits: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The fresh wave of criticism came just four days after Meghan and Harry were spotted supporting the Dodgers during Game 4 of the World Series at Dodger Stadium.

On Tuesday, the lovebirds were seated in the front row, ahead of legendary figures like basketball icon and Dodgers part-owner Magic Johnson, and four-time World Series champion and Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax.

Reportedly, their appearance was met with mixed reactions from the crowd, as they were loudly booed when the couple appeared on the kiss-cam screen.

Image credits: Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images

MLB even shared a clip of the pair on its social media accounts, showing the duo greeting fans as they made their way into the stadium.

The moment quickly sparked an online debate over whether the pricey front-row seats, which typically cost tens of thousands of dollars, were purchased by the Sussexes or offered to them as VIP guests of the team.

The celebratory video wasn't the first time the actress landed herself in hot water with skeptical fans.

Meghan and Prince Harry reportedly did not receive a warm welcome from the crowd during their last appearance at a Dodgers game

Image credits: Joe Scarnici/MLB Photos via Getty Images

Back in June this year, to mark Princess Lilibet's fourth birthday, Meghan shared a video on Instagram featuring herself in the delivery room at California's Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital.

She was joined by Prince Harry as the two playfully swayed their hips, seemingly to help induce labor while Meghan was heavily pregnant.

Soon after, many users accused the Duchess of faking her pregnancy, reigniting a wave of conspiracy theories online.

Image credits: Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images

"Even a blind person can see the poorly stuffed belly is fake," one claimed, while another wrote, "Belly moving everywhere is not a pregnancy belly at all."

"A heavily pregnant woman cannot move that way. You can barely walk, let alone twerk. There is nothing solid in there. The surrogacy theory just got another boost."

"Pretending to be the gosh darn biggest baseball fan in all of history is not going to make America fall in love with you," one critic mocked Meghan

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Entertainment"

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Source: CUSTOS NEWS

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#LALifestyle #USCelebrities

byCUSTOS CAELORUM

in Celebrities, lifestyle, PCelebrities, PoCelebrities, PolCelebrities, PoliCelebrities, PolitCelebrities, PoliticCelebrities, PolitiCelebrities, Politics, PoliticsCelebrities, showbiz, sports

November 03, 2025

Many Are Convinced Meghan Markle’s “Irritating” Celebration With Prince Harry At Home Was Staged

Many Are Convinced Meghan Markle's "Irritating" Celebration With Prince Harry At Home Was Staged Amita...

Read More